ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Residents of Gaya in Kano State took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the state government’s dissolution of the Gaya Emirate, Channels reports.
The Gaya Emirate is among the emirate councils recently dissolved following the amendment of the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019.
The new law, enacted by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)-controlled House of Assembly, reverses the law used by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2020 to create additional emirates and dethrone the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Voiceofnaija.ng reported that Governor Abba Yusuf had finalized the dissolution of the emirate councils by signing the amendment bill into law on Thursday.
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He ordered the emirs of the affected emirates, including Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Emir of Gaya, to hand over to Deputy Governor Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who oversees the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Residents reported that the dethroned emir vacated the palace at midnight on Thursday without any immediate signs of violence or resistance, with armed security personnel maintaining order in the town.
However, the situation escalated on Sunday morning when residents took to the streets, wielding placards and chanting anti-government slogans.
They accused the government of political motives behind the dissolution and demanded the reinstatement of their emirate and the removed emir.
“Some people are not happy with this development. It feels like an injustice to our community,” said Abubakar Shuaibu, a resident of Gaya.
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Another protester, Aminu Abdullahi, stated, “We see this as a political move to undermine our traditional institutions.
“The government should reconsider its decision and respect our cultural heritage.”
The protesters pledged their allegiance to the traditional leadership and called for the reinstatement of the Gaya Emirate.
Governor Abba Yusuf has yet to respond to the protests.
However, the government’s initial stance suggests that the dissolution is part of a broader strategy to centralize control and streamline the traditional leadership structure in Kano State.
As the developments continue to unfold, the affected communities await further clarification and possible resolutions from the state authorities.